The Indigenous Tarahumara who prefer not running in sandals

The World

In northern Mexico, an Indigenous group from the remote mountains of Chihuahua have been running long distances to cope with scarcity and isolation. The Tarahumara have traditionally run in sandals, and some of its fastest runners have become marathon and ultra-marathon champions, while inspiring a barefoot trend around the world. But a new generation of Tarahumara runners are finding it more comfortable to run in tennis shoes. The World’s Tibisay Zea reports from Ciudad Juarez, where some Indigenous runners are fighting marathon organizers against what they consider discriminatory rules.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!